[296c]
Hippias
Evidently not.Socrates
But yet it is by power that those are powerful who are powerful for surely it is not by powerlessness.Hippias
Certainly not.Socrates
And all who do, have power to do what they do?Hippias
Yes.Socrates
Men do many more bad things than good, from childhood up, and commit many errors involuntarily.Hippias
That is true.Socrates
Well, then, this power and these useful things, which are useful for accomplishing something bad—shall we say that they are beautiful, or far from it?
Evidently not.Socrates
But yet it is by power that those are powerful who are powerful for surely it is not by powerlessness.Hippias
Certainly not.Socrates
And all who do, have power to do what they do?Hippias
Yes.Socrates
Men do many more bad things than good, from childhood up, and commit many errors involuntarily.Hippias
That is true.Socrates
Well, then, this power and these useful things, which are useful for accomplishing something bad—shall we say that they are beautiful, or far from it?